Madagascar

[John Clayton]

...Why would someone who fly first class decide to stay in a lower end African hotel...

I can answer that. Because flying economy is so fcking horrible, and a cheap hotel built from sticks in the tropics can actually be better and more interesting than some airconditioned, concrete bunker.

[TailPipe]

New expert has a magnitude more money, increased and higher standard of living but still burning hate to overpricing things.

So my style? It's a bit polarized I just spent a week in Hilton Frankfurt before my trip to Brazil and also took a Condo in Fortaleza and Rio but now in a super cute bungalow for 40 k Ariary in Nosy Be. Should I post a review on Nosy Be?

Thank you for your report on Nosy underneath. Having said that I don't understand the logic of your decisions. Why would someone who fly first class decide to stay in a lower end African hotel. It doesn't make sense unless your flights are paid for.

[TailPipe]

For people who live england is best starling bank they give perfect mastercard exchange rate and not add 2 percent like revolut.

Thank you for the tip. I tried to apply unfortunately I didn't meet their standards.

[TailPipe]

I confirm using n26 black, unlimited ATL withdrawal, no fees, same for local payments, no fees at all, worldwide, tested in mada and in Phil at least.
But in Phil each bank adds a fee to each withdrawal.... For any card I guess.

I'm still still searching for an ideal card myself. You can have a look at carte Max. At first sight it seems withdrawals, opening and usage of the card is completely costless and there are no monthly fees. I didn't check the exchange rate. (Only for French fiscal residents). Another online French bank is Boursorama. Their Visa Ultim is also without cost. There is a catch though. You have to make one transaction monthly with the card. If you do not they will charge you 15€.

[Member #4673]

My journey so far was as follows although I will not go to mongering details due to lack of interest.

Nosy-Be- The hotel I saw staying for 40 k was excellent base to relax and enjoy the beach, surfing the internet ect. Girls clearly not my type as they all pro and business oriented so I was staying with a girl I met 3 years ago as she was one of the hotel stuff then and now we met again. So I have mix feeling regarding Nosy. From one hand its a comfortable place and cheap but after a week or so I got bored even that I got a girl that I liked. However if you like clubbing and feel comfortable with ladies of the night then this place is one of the best in the world for SSS. Sex, Sun, Sea.

Ambanja-one of the worst places to be but I was there for 3 nights in hotel Hibiscus 60 k huge room with Aircon and hot water no WiFi. As usual I met girls around town and went with them to a tour see where they live met the family etc. Since my goal was to reach SAVA Region I found a 4 x 4 that went direct to Vohemar. Unfortunately trip was cancelled.

Ambilobe-Very nice town with super hot girls. I was stayed there 3 days at hotel National at 52 k Aircon room with WiFi. I got two hot girls which I met around town and saw also big clubs but stayed the night with the girls instead of going out. RN5 A connects ambilobe with vohamar and supposed to be under construction as the chines finance the projects. I bought a 4 x4 ticket but when the trip was delayed a few hours I got my 50 k back and decided instead to reach Sambava from diego by Air.

Diego-road from Ambilobe wa terrible and I was in diego for two nights then I took a flight to sambava. My take on Diego is similar to previously as a place to avoid.

Sambava-Meet here my GF from two years ago and I have no plan for mongering here, Sambava is not recommended anymore unless you have specific affaire like me.

To sum-the best surprise for girls was Ambilobe but the infrastructure are lacking although some hot non pro are available.

[BrasilSoccer0]

Dear NmExpert,

I respect your reply since it was straight forward and not defensive. I would love to see your report on NoseBe. Your style closely resembles mine so without a doubt I'll benefit from your take on NoseBe one way or the other.

Funny question its a bit of complex unaware. First my last visa extension in Tana cost me 80 k if you remember they gave me 2 month only at ivato but the extension procedure was a nightmare. So for me to get it within NosyBe international airport was a good news regardless of the assumed 80 k price tag.

Yes, I just returned from Colombia and Brazil and those flights were expensive and I been everywhere in those countries taking UBER and premium class flights. Not economy. I normally stay within a budget of 2 K USD per month. So I cut in hotels as I can get the best hotels in the lowest price possible due to experience and negotiation skills. Normally I go to hotels when I negotiate directly with the owner not the stuff and not any booking platform.

Let me give you small example some early report states the hotel Robinson Crussoe in Nosy Be https://goo.gl/maps/pcqSQp22gU4poJnz7 cost 60 k per night. However I pay only 40 k at the peak season August. I do have wifi in that hotel although I manipulate the router for getting the best signal strength. Its a super comfortable place especially one of the Bungalows. As I mention earlier in Toliara previous trip I bought electric kettle to get hot water in a near perfect hotel for 30 k per night. Now in nosy be I pay 40 k with same trick.

So its all comes to budget management and optimization. Also I always know the real price for example TukTuk is only 500 AR within Ambatoloaka or 3 k to Hell-Ville. I do speak french so when I want a ride to Hell-Ville I just said 3 k 3 k without specify my destination. When they ask where to? I unsware 3 k. After a few seconds they say OK lets go as they know that for 3 k there only one possible destination. If you ask how much you are fucked. Same as I want to go to Hell-Ville.

Same person? NMExpert stand for New Mada expert which is evolved version of the older Mada expert. New expert has a magnitude more money, increased and higher standard of living but still burning hate to overpricing things.

So my style? It's a bit polarized I just spent a week in Hilton Frankfurt before my trip to Brazil and also took a Condo in Fortaleza and Rio but now in a super cute bungalow for 40 k Ariary in Nosy Be. Should I post a review on Nosy Be?

[Albert9989]

Its not free. You pay 120 a year. I pay 70 a year for my Visa including Insurance. There is no free lunch.

Yes the card itself is not free, like many other cards, but you don't pay any other fee when using it worldwide, that's only what I mean.

With my other one, visa from my French bank I pay big fees each time I do a payment with another currency than euro.

[Neddy69]

Ah, sorry, but my n26 black, MasterCard, us totally free of any charge or fee when I use it in mada for ATM or payments, unlimited withdrawals, no charge.

But I pay 10 euros a month to n26 for that card with additional insurances for travels.

So, yes, its proven totally free of any fees worldwide. Except the fees taken locally in some countries like Phil for each withdrawal.

The exchange rate is also at the best level.

I agree its debit even if not sure of the meaning, immediate debit, no credit possible. But unuseful for me so not an issue.

Its not free. You pay 120€ a year. I pay 70€ a year for my Visa including Insurance. There is no free lunch.

[Albert9989]

Unlimited? No. And only Master Card Debit. As I said Master Card is coming back to Africa. Years ago no Master Card was working in Africa. And its not free. Either you pay monthly surcharge. Or its 1. 7% per cash withdrawal.

ATM withdrawals in foreign currencies are also subject to a 1. 70% fee for basic account and are free for N26 You and Metal account holders.

My Visa Credit Card never let me down. With Debit cards are russian roulette. But I agree coverage for Master Card is improving as more and more ATMs accept MC now.

Neddy.

Ah, sorry, but my n26 black, MasterCard, us totally free of any charge or fee when I use it in mada for ATM or payments, unlimited withdrawals, no charge.

But I pay 10 euros a month to n26 for that card with additional insurances for travels.

So, yes, its proven totally free of any fees worldwide. Except the fees taken locally in some countries like Phil for each withdrawal.

The exchange rate is also at the best level.

I agree its debit even if not sure of the meaning, immediate debit, no credit possible. But unuseful for me so not an issue.

[SouthEaster]

The only bank I have found to be reliable in Mada for MC is BFV-SocGen. BNI says it does but I have never been able to get money out of a BNI ATM with my MC. On another (down) note Bank of Africa is starting to charge a fee for ATM withdrawal. 10200 Ariary. Needless to say I went elsewhere. This was in Hellville. Maybe not country wide yet? Let's hope it doesn't spread. It's not much but it is nonsense when you can only withdraw 400000 at a time!

[Neddy69]

I confirm using n26 black, unlimited ATL withdrawal, no fees, same for local payments, no fees at all, worldwide, tested in mada and in Phil at least.
But in Phil each bank adds a fee to each withdrawal.... For any card I guess.

Unlimited? No. And only Master Card Debit. As I said Master Card is coming back to Africa. Years ago no Master Card was working in Africa. And its not free. Either you pay monthly surcharge. Or its 1. 7% per cash withdrawal.

ATM withdrawals in foreign currencies are also subject to a 1. 70% fee for basic account and are free for N26 You and Metal account holders.

My Visa Credit Card never let me down. With Debit cards are russian roulette. But I agree coverage for Master Card is improving as more and more ATMs accept MC now.

Neddy.

[Albert9989]

For people who live england is best starling bank they give perfect mastercard exchange rate and not add 2 percent like revolut. Last time I was at mada I was getting around 4752 ariary for each pound from starling card when money exchangers places was given just around 4300 for each pound. Its unbeliavable diffrent!! I don't suggest people exhange pounds to ariary at mada because the rate isn't great at all. Better use cards which don't have any fees or at least revolut card its still be cheaper than money exchangers. People from europe also can use n26 bank card its simillar for revolut.for americans is best Charles Schwab which even reimbruse all atm fees (if they have one) end of the month. Its probbaly best card you can get in all world.

I confirm using n26 black, unlimited ATL withdrawal, no fees, same for local payments, no fees at all, worldwide, tested in mada and in Phil at least.
But in Phil each bank adds a fee to each withdrawal.... For any card I guess.

[Pokeris]

French mongers who wish to visit Madagascar or any other African country without carrying huge wads of money on them can apply for a carte Max. Except for the exchange rate there are no other costs involved. It seems to be similar to the Barclays card for British residents. Read it on the French mongers site Youppie. Best alternative I found for non French or British residents is Revolut but they will charge you 2% on top of the exchange rate if you withdraw more than 200 Euro within a month.

For people who live england is best starling bank they give perfect mastercard exchange rate and not add 2 percent like revolut. Last time I was at mada I was getting around 4752 ariary for each pound from starling card when money exchangers places was given just around 4300 for each pound. Its unbeliavable diffrent!! I don't suggest people exhange pounds to ariary at mada because the rate isn't great at all. Better use cards which don't have any fees or at least revolut card its still be cheaper than money exchangers. People from europe also can use n26 bank card its simillar for revolut.for americans is best Charles Schwab which even reimbruse all atm fees (if they have one) end of the month. Its probbaly best card you can get in all world.

[Neddy69]

I think we both agree showing off too much in Madagascar will attract unwanted crowd. It's safer to keep a low profile, to stay away from crooks, drug dealers and nightlife experts. I would be more moderate about the risks.

You may have noticed that the only people been abducted are rich Karany. There are historical and cultural reasons for that. No place on earth is 100% safe but Madagascar is still much safer than other popular mongering.

Destinations. Been here for 6 years, never had a problem.

I agree with your assessment. If you run around showing loads of cash you might as well paint a big bulls eye on your back. 6 years? You mean you live here or you come and go? That's a difference too. You were lucky then. But statistically you're not getting robbed that often.

A friend of mine lives 35 years in Kenya and has been robbed only three times at gunpoint.

I agree that downtown Tana is a lot safer than downtown Caracas.

Neddy.

[Neddy69]

French mongers who wish to visit Madagascar or any other African country without carrying huge wads of money on them can apply for a carte Max. Except for the exchange rate there are no other costs involved. It seems to be similar to the Barclays card for British residents. Read it on the French mongers site Youppie. Best alternative I found for non French or British residents is Revolut but they will charge you 2% on top of the exchange rate if you withdraw more than 200 Euro within a month.

I have a Visa Credit card since 25 years and its working. I don't care about charges for cash withdrawals. Once you carry too much cash around and being robbed its more expensive than being robbed by the bank.

My 2 cents.

Neddy.

Ya I looked at revolut. These cards are all based on Bitcoin. I am old fashioned and consider this funny money and just a huge ponzi scheme. Its being pushed now as unlike banks there is almost no currency spread between buying and selling rates.